new peeks: kealopiko ku collection

ke aloha aina

the lovely ladies behind kealopiko are definitely to be admired for their dedication in sharing the hawaiian culture with the modern world and their commitment to good design. i like to think of the descriptions that accompany all of their designs as continuing education . . . little histories which help folks (re)connect with their ancestry while clueing in kama'aina and others who may not have been immersed in all things hawaiian learn more about hawaii's native culture. more knowledge is always a good thing!

happily, kealopiko recently introduced their ku collection for spring 2010 and are showing more love for our 'aina by expanding the number of designs printed on organic cotton and eco-friendly fibers. one of the most striking designs is the ke aloha aina tee which mixes a variety of typefaces and serves as a printed reminder of the wearer's "deep love of the land":

"aloha aina is a very old concept . . . although it may change and adapt, it is a part of us that will never go away. we remain kupa‘a in our love for our place, which is challenged all the time by things that are not in the interest of the land or the people. more than a century of occupation may have produced a lot of confusion, but it can never break our aloha aina. so no matter what our different political persuasions might be, wherever we are on our journeys of learning, or wherever we find ourselves in the struggle, we must never forget our common bond of aloha aina."

in addition to tees and tops, pretty strapless dresses are now being offered which i suspect will be very popular this summertime. and, the kealopiko 'ohana also kindly shared a few of the custom looks created for one of the lucky wedding parties who have walked down the aisle wearing some of the most gorgeous designs for an island wedding.

aeo

lehua makanoe * lau amau & palai a kamapuaa

are you sharing my swoon over these lovely wedding looks from lauren and mason's wedding? the muted colorways are so pretty and this is certainly one of the most stylish ways to share the aloha spirit on such a happy day.

if you would love to order a custom design, be advised that kealopiko suggests a minimum of 8 weeks notice to conjure up something made just for you.

the ku collection is currently stocked in the online shop and you can find select styles at boutiques around the islands. oahu readers can also say hello to the kealopiko 'ohana during this weekend's e malama i ke kai festival:

• when: sat, may 15th - 10a to 3p
• where: kapiolani park bandstand, waikiki

{photo credit | lauren & mason's wedding: joanna tano photography}

indie pop

my list of possibilities to investigate on trips home is always jam packed but onopops just may be the one discovery i am most excited to sample this summer. the frozen treats with a locavore pedigree has a menu filled with tempting flavors blending sweet and savory to the approval of island foodie palates since its debut last month.

i was so excited to discover onopops (via the mu'umu'u heaven 'ohana, natch) that i checked in with founders and brothers joe and josh welch (of palolo and hawaii kai) to discover what inspired this frozen fusion of flavor. the story begins with a mexican paleta encountered during a mainland vacation. excited by the possibilities back in the islands, joe soon persuaded josh, who once whipped up wandering feasts for sf's ghetto gourmet, to move home and create culinary magic by concocting popsicle mixology with farm fresh produce and other island delights.

happily, the onopops 'ohana are committed to working with local producers like waianae's naked cow dairy, waialua's mohala farms, maui's surfing goat dairy and kula farms and plan to offer a seasonal selection of sustainable treats. lucky family and friends make up the tasting panel (and also pitch in at the growing number of farmers markets where you can find onopops) with the winning recipe added to the menu and made fresh in small batches leading up to market day.

moveable treats

current offerings include pineapple li hing, the poggs, ume-thai basil and the upcoming caramel shoyu . . . all for $3 a pop.

your mission, dear readers, is to seek out, sample and report back on your favorite onopops. sources include mu'umu'u heaven for windward friends, the wednesday afternoon farmers market at the blaisdell for townies, and hawaii kai on saturdays (the am makeke o maunalua market at kaiser starting next weekend; pm market at koko head elementary). and, kcc fans will be happy to know that onopops scooped up a spot for this weekend's market.

btw, if you really want to delight your party guests, nix the cooler and consider renting onopops' fabulous vintage brazilian cart (shown above; $50 plus $2 to $2.50 per pop to stock the cart) to add a little charm to your soirée.

p.s. your best bet to stay updated on onopops news is via facebook and twitter.

aloha friday scoop

pop into fighting eel hq to save 25% off one style (fyi, in-store coupon expires sat) or click over to the online shop and save 15% off your entire order!

• when: now to sat, may 8th - 10a to 5p
• where: 47 north hotel street, chinatown

• secret code: moms
• expires: sun, may 9th - midnight hst
• fyi: all sales final

first friday hosts maoli arts month with chinatown galleries featuring the work of native hawaiian artists and artisans.

• when: fri, may 7th - 5p
• where: chinatown arts district

the ladies of cloth hawaii and rock shop preview lions n tigers, their new style collaboration, plus another chance to fill-a-bag with vintage pieces for $20.

• when: fri, may 7th - 5p to 9p
• where: coral loft, 1033a smith street, chinatown

Click to read more ...

heather brown summer 2010

heather brown for rip curl girl

since kaua'i artist heather brown was first featured two years ago, the artwork that makes so many of us swoon has taken her across the pacific to establish a gallery of her own in japan and, more recently, inspired a collaboration with rip curl. yep, you can now hit the surf wrapped in those gorgeous glassy waves that have become one of heather's delightful motifs. proof that following your heart and doing what you love can only lead to good things.

the summer 2010 collection is part of the surf label's "artist of the search" series in europe which means, alas, only select styles are available here in the states. continuing on with yesterday's eco theme, many of the looks are made of organic cotton (or "coton bio" as described on the european website . . . ooh la la!) with the swimwear made of a recycled poly blend. in addition to dresses, tops and hoodies, our lucky friends in europe also get to take their pick of a range of accessories and petite tees for little wahines.

word is that more of the collection should be arriving stateside this winter so, until then, let's console ourselves with a few peeks so you can jot down your favorites on your xmas wish list.

your best bet to scoop up the handful of styles available outside of europe is at hic and surf 'n sea in haleiwa as well as mainland stockists. you may also want to try your luck online where i managed to track down the organic tee (here) as well as the bikinis and slippers (here) that round out the collection.

{mahalo chelsea & spencer!}

{photo credit: ted grambeau for rip curl}

new peeks: organik 2010

m's squid tee

the organik 'ohana kindly sent along peeks of the label's 2010 collection with riffs on kona sunsets and tidepool discoveries along with a few cheeky plays on sustainable philosophies working their way into this year's look book. mixed in is organik's first dip into everyday basics with introductory offerings including certified organic cotton, micromodal jersey and recycled poly blend (spun from soda pop bottles) editions of the iconic wrap dress, tees, tanks, hoodies and polos.

happy news for readers who may shy away from screenprinted designs or for anyone who shares my efforts to replace unwearables with eco-friendly choices (i am, in fact, typing this now while dressed in my favorite stewart+brown organic tee layered over an organic cotton cami). after countless shopping expeditions, i know first hand how difficult it can be to source pretty sustainable pieces made in the good ol' u.s. of a. that do not elicit sticker shock so i am definitely excited about the upcoming possibilities. hooray!

eye chart * free range

w's driftwood tee

w's wrap dress * recycled slub tank

the newest organik arrivals are starting to find their way to the line's network of stockists around hawaii and the mainland. if a neighborhood shopping experience is not in the cards, keep an eye on the online shop or try your luck at organik's green room where you can scoop up past season looks for a song and which will be hosting a preview of the summer collection this weekend:

• when: sat, may 8th - 6p to 9p
• where: the green room, 73-5580 maiau street, kailua-kona (near costco)
• fyi: shop hours vary; call ahead to confirm the doors will be open for your shopping trip

p.s. you can currently save 30% off select styles in the online shop with complimentary shipping on us orders!